CHINA

The Chinese economy grew around 10.1 percent last year, the deputy head of China's top economic planning agency told Reuters on Saturday, which amounts to the fastest pace of annual growth in three years.

China should not worry about being too heavily invested in the dollar and U.S. government debt, because its dependence is not unique in a world with few alternatives, a senior official at China's sovereign fund said.

Daimler AG's (DAIGn.DE) sees China sales exceeding the 10 percent overall growth of the car market this year, a senior company executive said on Saturday.

U.S.-China relations are at a critical juncture and a summit between their leaders next week must produce real action, on real issues such as trade, climate change and North Korean nuclear proliferation, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday.

China's central bank raised lenders' required reserves on Friday for the fourth time in just over two months, stepping up the fight against inflation that it has vowed will be a top priority for the year.

American and Chinese energy companies will sign several commercial agreements next week during Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit to Washington, a U.S. official said on Friday.

Several U.S. business leaders will meet with Chinese chief executives in Washington during President Hu Jintao's visit next week, all seeking new deals to tap into economic growth in China.

U.S.-China relations are at a critical juncture and a summit between their leaders next week must produce real action, on real issues such as trade, climate change and North Korean nuclear proliferation, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday.

U.S. companies want a lot out of Chinese President Hu Jintao when he visits Washington next week. They have a long list of moans and desires.

In a sign Washington will not press China too hard for more rapid appreciation of the yuan, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Friday the Chinese currency had already seen a substantial real rise.

Two rival bidders for Baffinland Iron Mines have united in a C$590 million ($595 million) joint takeover offer for the iron ore explorer, ending a four-month fight to control its huge deposit in the Canadian Arctic.

U.S. companies want a lot out of Chinese President Hu Jintao when he visits Washington next week. They have a long list of moans and desires.

The South African rand fell to its lowest in five weeks on Friday, as the central bank mopped up dollar supply as a measure to curb currency strength, while waning global risk appetite also weighed.

Bullion rebounded on Friday as the euro lost strength despite better-than-forecast debt auctions by Spain and Italy, while purchases from jewellers and investors, which sent premiums for gold bars to two-year highs, offered additional support.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Friday after weak retail sales and a mixed reaction to JPMorgan Chase & Co's quarterly earnings.

An improving global economy, solid corporate earnings and even easing fears about euro zone debt have been more than enough to rationalise the rising hunger for riskier assets now prevalent on financial markets.

Wikipedia's impact on the world has yet to peak as the open online encyclopedia aims to double its reach, mainly through expansion in developing countries, founder Jimmy Wales told Reuters.

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has appointed Robert Ashworth for the role of Asia managing partner.

U.S. stocks are down slightly in Friday morning trading after the release of U.S. retail sales data and news of further monetary tightening from China.

British scientists have developed genetically modified (GM) chickens that cannot transmit bird flu infections -- a step that in future could reduce the risk of avian flu spreading and causing deadly epidemics in humans.

Retired professor Chen Chongyu and his wife Liu Zhenjuan dreamed of coming back to China from their daughter's home in France, but until last year the couple had nowhere to go.